Hello out there am I the only member in the UP

[Tatiana 79]

I just was wondering if there are any other members up here or am I completely alone ?
  I know a lot of you won't like this but my psychiatrist tells me I would be the first going through Marquette General with transition. I trust my therapist and doctor to do their homework and provide me with the treatment for my gender dysphoria. I was thinking of going down to U of M Ann Arbor because they have an excellent program there but I'm not because I hate going down there and I trust my doctor very much she's awesome and I've been with her for about 10 years. But I'd still like to know if I'm the only one up here. Love you all Tatiana

[Northern Star Girl]

I just was wondering if there are any other members up here or am I completely alone ?
  I know a lot of you won't like this but my psychiatrist tells me I would be the first going through Marquette General with transition. I trust my therapist and doctor to do their homework and provide me with the treatment for my gender dysphoria. I was thinking of going down to U of M Ann Arbor because they have an excellent program there but I'm not because I hate going down there and I trust my doctor very much she's awesome and I've been with her for about 10 years. But I'd still like to know if I'm the only one up here. Love you all Tatiana

Dear Tatiana:  I am certain that you are not alone,
I had seen a member from Marquett and another one from St. Ignace...  I wish that I could remember their profile names... or they may have not stated their real location.   
Unfortunately with the medical privacy laws your therapist can not reveal their names and locations.

Your posting thread SUBJECT TITLE should draw some interest if there are members in the UP.
Good luck to you....
Hugs,
Danielle

[Tatiana 79]

 
Dear Danielle
Thank you for telling me at least someone was up here but I won't be surprised if I get no response at all. The upper peninsula is one third of Michigan but only has 3% of its population the average population density where I live is 2.3 people per square mile which seems about right. I know it's not like Alaska but we do get influenced by the Arctic Ocean bringing very cold temperatures and huge lake effect snow falls. We live in the start of the Boreal forest and at the other end is polar bear Provincial Park on Hudson Bay about 500 miles away as the crow fly. We had back-to-back record snowfalls of 350 in for two years in a row it literally in engulfed the house and I had to dig out the windows to get light in and could park my snowmobile on the roof. I hope to talk about your area someday in the future best wishes love Tatiana

[Laurie]

 Hi again Tatiana,

  Your topic got my notice. I am not in the UP but I have relatives up there. I have a cousin in Cooks and an adopted sister/cousin in Newberry. My parents used to live in Manistique after my Dad retired. I never lived there myself though I have been up there many times in the past for visits. I've even been in Marquette a couple of times.
  I've been wanting to go visit my cousin in Cooks and her husband. I don't think they are aware of my transition though and don't know what think would think of it.
  Anyway there is a possibility I may wander up that way in the future. Who know we might even meet someday it has happened to others you know?

Hugs,
   Laurie

[Tatiana 79]

Dear Laurie
First off thanks for your help the other day. I'm very glad that you had a chance to see a good part of the UP and would be interested to know what you thought about it up here. It's well off the beaten path and to me the smaller towns haven't changed at all. It's kind of like another world very different then the urban world I grew up in outside of Detroit.  and after a lot of bad things happened to my wife like getting knifed her purse stolen and then almost abducted by someone following her to work and trying to drag her into his van luckily A co-worker seen this and tackled the jerk. That was enough for me to quit my job and move up here to live on our 40 acre parcel in the wilderness. It was also both of our dreams to escape the urban jungle and start a new life up here and we're so glad we did. We are considered Yoopers and fit in to the small town very well over the last 25 years I think this will help me to come out to everyone but they're already pretty used to seen me dressed as a girl every Halloween and sometimes many days in advance but of course presenting different looks each time. and now I'm wearing my hair like a girl in public and don't have any negative thing to say about it just positive things for me.
I really would love to meet you if you ever came up here again please let me know, I have never met any trans anything before other than a Trans Am in the summer but that doesn't count. I sure would loved meeting you possibly someday as I'm sure you would have great influence and help to provide insite for me I'm so glad you answered this but I'm still hoping I'm not completely alone up here but won't be surprised if I am. Danielle told me she sure that there are some up here and I would agree but they might be still in the closet and unavailable.
  Thanks again you are such a sweetheart so glad you're here.I would love to say, welcome to da UP eh as I'm sure you picked up on the different accent up here sometimes I can hardly understand them it's so strong.
     All the best to you love Tatiana

[Tatiana 79]

Hello everyone

It appears that I am alone up here as I suspected but that's okay cuz I have all of you now. I might be able to talk to talk but will need all of your help to walk the walk.

  Love Tatiana

[Tatiana 79]

Hey Everyone
I just had to let you know this I am probably the only member up here but Alaskan Danielle was right I am not alone.
I just found a Trans woman that has been living and working up here and offers her services in helping others like me.
She knows the local scene up here and I'm sure will be crucial for me.
I'm just waiting for her to contact me,
how cool is that.
  love Tatiana

[Northern Star Girl]

Hey Everyone
I just had to let you know this I am probably the only member up here but Alaskan Danielle was right I am not alone.
I just found a Trans woman that has been living and working up here and offers her services in helping others like me.
She knows the local scene up here and I'm sure will be crucial for me.
I'm just waiting for her to contact me,
how cool is that.
  love Tatiana

Tatiana:  That is such good news and thanks for posting your good report. 
Now, not only do you have new friends and friendly and accepting support here on Susan's but now you have found someone in your area that you can share with and help each other.   Even though she may be more further into her transition journey than you, there are things that you can share with her also.  Many times newbies have experiences to share that will help a more experienced person.
I am certain that now since you have made contact with at least one other, you will find more in your rural area.

As you might know from reading my posts that I am feeling quite alone where I live.  My town, like your area is so very small and quite conservative I am most likely the only trans-woman that most of the locals have ever seen or even met... so I go out of my way and make a concerted effort to make very certain that I am giving a positive impression of what a trans-woman is.

I will be eagerly awaiting your further updates about your journey up there in the lonely UP in Michigan.
Hugs and well wishes as always,
Danielle

[Tatiana 79]

Thanks so much Danielle
She fully transitioned in 09 and looks wonderful and seems quite a force of nature. Thanks for all of your advice I'll be sure to let you know how my first Contact went

Love Tatiana

[Barri]

There is some sort of "Drag" race in Ontonagon every year, I'm sure there will be at least a few participants that wear high heels more than once a year.

[Tatiana 79]

Thanks so much for your reply
It's really nice to know we're not alone up here eh.
I'm just barely learning the trans scene in Marquette. I have attended several drag shows at Northern Michigan University.
And of course me and my wife are regulars at The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the vista in Negaunee.
I'll definitely check this out and hopefully attend.
if you go there and ever see a 6 foot 2 and a 1/2 inch super skinny with long lanky legs and arms with 6 inch heels fishnets super  small mini skirt that'll be me.
So glad were in da U.P. eh !

Thanks CDTVforlife hope to meet someday

love Tatiana

[Christyn]

@Tatiana -I also understand seclusion. I live in WV, about 100 miles outside DC and I have a feeling that I may very well be the first trans person anyone I know in my area has encountered. The stereo types you think about WV are true, most of them at least. There are confederate flags on probably 50% of cars and outside just as many houses - I'm not going to say intolerant is the correct word, because I haven't been out, presenting female in my area - but the area may not be real trans friendly, hence the reason I had to go all the way to DC to go to the Dr.
The only real time support I have is a couple girls at my civilian job- One fully transitioned a few years ago, and the other is full time.They both work in other components - I'll be the first in my office, which is so very alpha cis male -it's just dripping testosterone (Yet another thing I did to try and re-affrim who I thought I was supposed to be) very few females and even fewer LGBT people.
In any case - I think there are more of us in remote areas - in that aspect you're not alone. The bigger picture : you're never alone.

[Tatiana 79]

Hello Christyn

Glad to meet you you're absolutely right about the feeling of being alone but you're really not I guarantee there are others out there undiscovered.
I'm so glad you work with two others like yourself that you can learn from I just recently had contact with the first trans woman ever and it was very inspirational.
I can really identify with you about a rural situations I kind of feel the same but I have found there is a trans scene around me as there probably is by you.you. just have to search it out.
I personally am at the point where I just don't care what others think it's their problem not mine would they discriminate against someone in a wheelchair or with crutches I think not.
Humans throughout history have always discriminated against the unknown.
I came out today to a few in my little town by providing an explanation first as I'm certain my mother was exposed to DES
I started out explaining what that drug did to my two-year-old sister and luckily she avoided cervical cancer by the skin of her teeth. Then explained what it did to me being denied testosterone to my developing brain in my mother's womb provided a simple explanation.
I know everyone's case is a little different but I believe the base reasoning is sound and I tried it out in my little town by providing explanation first before opinions are formed and it's making it easier for me
Just be yourself hold your head high know who's in your head and presented with a big smile and eye contact.
learn from your coworkers they are a tremendous asset

Best wishes love tatiana

[Christyn]

Hello Christyn

Glad to meet you you're absolutely right about the feeling of being alone but you're really not I guarantee there are others out there undiscovered.
I'm so glad you work with two others like yourself that you can learn from I just recently had contact with the first trans woman ever and it was very inspirational.
I can really identify with you about a rural situations I kind of feel the same but I have found there is a trans scene around me as there probably is by you.you. just have to search it out.
I personally am at the point where I just don't care what others think it's their problem not mine would they discriminate against someone in a wheelchair or with crutches I think not.
Humans throughout history have always discriminated against the unknown.
I came out today to a few in my little town by providing an explanation first as I'm certain my mother was exposed to DES
I started out explaining what that drug did to my two-year-old sister and luckily she avoided cervical cancer by the skin of her teeth. Then explained what it did to me being denied testosterone to my developing brain in my mother's womb provided a simple explanation.
I know everyone's case is a little different but I believe the base reasoning is sound and I tried it out in my little town by providing explanation first before opinions are formed and it's making it easier for me
Just be yourself hold your head high know who's in your head and presented with a big smile and eye contact.
learn from your coworkers they are a tremendous asset

Best wishes love tatiana

Thank you - I've gotten so much support from the 2 of them - they are very successful in their areas and have been so helpful on so many levels.
We'll see where things go in my little corner of WV - I am hopeful.
See you around -
Christyn

[Barri]

Christin, there is an awesome group in Hagerstown that meets once a month, HagerstownTGs.
HagerstownTGs@yahoogroups.com
Tatiana, The wife and I were on the cusp of buying a house in the Ontonagon area, and visit every couple years, best cheap real estate in the nation for certain, If I ever go during the drag race you'll know me as the "never gonna pass ever" giant 6'8" before any size 16 mens heels person.

[Tatiana 79]

If you do buy that house in Ontonagon I sure would look forward to meeting you and yours.
You're absolutely right about the housing prices they are extremely reasonable but we don't want to say that too loud because we like it just the way it is and hope it doesn't get over developed like it did for me downstate. But I don't believe this will ever happen in our lifetime I hope.
If you ever go to the drag race let me know I'll definitely will come with the wife and don't feel bad about being on passable I'm in the same boat but really don't care.
I really love the area around Ontonagon especially Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park I'm sure you have been there and probably would agree. Lake of the clouds is awesome  especially in fall  with all the brilliant color change. I think about half of the park about 20,000 Acres is Virgin old growth forest that is pretty rare to find nowadays the lower peninsula only has I think 49 Acres left at Hartwick Pines.

I admit it is a lot of fun at those events and dressing over the top with everything but now I'm kind of at the opposite Spectrum with real life experience some of the time dressing down as much as I can  just to slip under the radar but presenting a little more Femmie in baby steps.
It's kind of fun and interesting because I interact the same as I have for the last 25 years and they don't even seem to notice
I hope you buy that house so I can have another Yooper friend up here. I don't know if you've ever been up here in the winter because it sure is big snow country due to the lake effect snow from gitche gumee. I think it was 1996 and 1997 we had back-to-back record amounts of snow around 350 inches, we literally had to dig the house out to get light in through the windows and I could park the snowmobile on the roof of the house and then go down to the door.
I'm going to check out that drag race right now and see if I can find anything on it.

Looking forward to meeting you, Betcha By Golly Ya Eh.

     Love Tatiana

[Christyn]

Christin, there is an awesome group in Hagerstown that meets once a month, HagerstownTGs.
HagerstownTGs@yahoogroups.com

Oh really? That is good to know- I'll definitely  have to look into that. Thank you for sharing!😬

[Barri]

For now the move is off, I figured it would cost me about 500 bucks round trip from South East PA in a geo metro at 48ish mpgeez to come back to see my mom in the DC area, half again that if the wife came with (she won't even sit in a metro)
So we are currently looking in the Waynesboro, PA area.
Been to Onto in jan, been there in the fall as well, freakin awesome either way.

[MaryT]

I think that there are more members in the UP now, so I thought I'd push the topic back to the front of the queue.

[DawnOday]

Tatiana here is a handy list of support groups in Michigan. Marquette appears to have 37 people signed up which is not a lot. At least compared to Ingersoll here in Seattle.
http://www.transgendermichigan.org/chapter/index.html